Butter mold



May 1s, 1943 J.' M. CHARLTON BUTTER MQLD Filed May 22, 1940 Patented May 18, 1943 BUTTER MOLD John M. Charlton, Oakland, Calif., assignor to R. A. Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 2z, 194.0, serial No. 336,558

(o1. s`145) Y 8 Claims.

The invention relates to a mold in which soft butter or the like is placed to harden into a relatively large block preparatory to cutting into small squares for packaging or dispensing.

This type of mold usually comprises a rectangular shaped container provided with side walls which are rigidly held together in the molding and hardening process, but are designed to be fully or partially released or backed away from the molded product when the latter is to be released from the mold. Heretofore, the placing of the mold walls into and out of the molding position has been elTected by use of attaching or clamping devices requiring rotation of threaded members or other time consuming or awkward operations. In accordance with the present invention, the operation of placing themold walls in operative position and of releasing the mold from the contents may be effected not only without the use of said attaching or clamping devices,

but during and as a part of the handling of the -mold in placing the same in position for use or for removing the butter from the mold.

Another object or feature of the invention is to Jprovide a means of the character described which will serve to move the lmold walls into position, hold same securely in said position, move the walls out of engagement with the molded product and retain such walls so disposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the character described which cannot become accidentally removed or lost, and is designed to avoid obtrusion of parts and to permit ycompact stacking and storing of the molds during and between use.

'I'he invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention adjacent portions of adjoining walls of the mold,

the parts being in somewhat exaggerated separated relation. v

As shown in the drawing, the butter mold of my invention comprises a container 2 having a bottom 3 and vertical walls which for convenience in description will be separated into side walls 4 and end walls 6. The bottom and Walls are preferably formed of wood, and the latter are connected to the bottom in a manner topermit a limited movement of the walls relative to the bottom so that when the butter is to be removed from the mold, the walls may be spread` outwardly to disengage the same. As here shown, the walls are secured to the bottom by means of screws 'I which extend through the lower edge portion 5 of the walls and into the bottom 3. Preferably, the inner side of the" wall portion aforesaid has a rabbet connection with the bottom 3 and is formed with a horizontal groove 8 in which is seated a corresponding tongue 9 extending from the bottom. rIr'he screws lt' loosely in the wall and the opposing surfaces of the Wall and-bottom below the tongue 9 are spaced apart so that by causingfthe headof the screws to press tightly against the walls, the latter will be urged to normally assume an outwardly tilted position. Desirably, the screws 'I which extend parallel'to the grain of the wood of bottom 3 are designed t0 engage a plug I3 formed of a relatively hard wood or the like, and fitted in the bottom in order to prevent stripping of the thread due to the tension in the screws. l f

As shown in the drawing, the side walls 4 Vand the end walls 6 are provided with rails I4 and I6 respectively which are secured to the walls by dowels I5, and each ofthe rails is preferably cut `or otherwise formed to provide a miter joint when the walls are disposed in vertical or inward position. Desirably, the rails I6 extend higher than the rails I4 so as to provide a space at the top of the side walls when the molds are stacked or when inverted upon the cutting table.

As will be clear from Figure 1, the side walls are arranged to overlap the end walls, and in order that the walls will move' into proper registration in vertical position, the rails I6 are provided at their endswith shoulders I'I which overlie the ends of rails I4.

Means are provided which are positionedon the rails I4 and I6 for moving the walls into ver- .tical position. By reference particularly to Figures 2 to 4, it will be seen that the rails I4 and I6` are provided with beveled outer surfaces I9 and I8 respectively, which slope downwardly and outwardly. Surrounding the mold and positioned at the rails I4 and I 6 is a rectangular band or clamp 2I, here shown in the form of an endless metal rod which is designed to engage the tapered surfaces I8 and I9. The clamp 2I is of such size and relation to the surfaces I8 and I9 that when moved downwardly against said surfaces the walls will be forced inward to their vertical positions, and correspondingly when the clamp is elevated, the walls become free for movement to their outward position. For facilitating gripping of the clamp, a handle 22 is formed in the portions 23 opposite the end rails I6. The handles 22 are also adapted for use in carrying and handling the mold. Fixed to the end rails I6 are a pair of guide members 24 which serve to retain the clamp 2| on the mold. The members 24 are provided with end portions 26 and 21 which are attached to the top and bottom of the rails by means of screws 28 or the like. The central portion 29 of the members is disposed in spaced relation to the surfaces I8 of the rails and is inclined in general to correspond with said surface. As will be evident, when the clamp is moved upwardly, should the walls remain in inward position, the clamp will engage the portions 29 at both ends of the mold and thereby force the walls to their outward position. Preferably, the rails I5 are formed with a ledge 3l at the upper edge of surface I8 so as to provide an additional stop for clamp 2| when moved to its upper position. The guide members are designed to protrude suiciently outward to provide spacers or legs for the mold when the latter is supported on end.

As will be understood, the portions of the clamp between the corners are resilient and therefore may be bowed outwardly, and'in order that the clamp may be retained in operative position, that is holding the walls in inward position, metal heads or buttons 32 are provided on the surfaces I8 over which the portions 23 may be forced, so as to be held under the heads and thereby substantially lock the mold in operative position.

In the use of the mold, the soft butter is of course placed into the mold after the clamp has been lowered to hold the walls in inward or vertical position. After the butter has hardened, the mold is usually inverted over a cutting table and as the mold is placed upon the table, the operator simultaneously and suddenly depresses the handles so that the walls of the mold spring outwardly to disengage the sides of the butter. The'mold is then lifted from over the butter to leave the block'free and clear.

1. In a butter mold, a bottom, upright side and end walls hinged thereto for movement to or from an inward vertical position, rail members extendingalong said walls adjacent the upper edges thereof around the open top of said mold and having provided thereon downwardly and outwardly 'sloping surfaces, and a clamping ring member surrounding said rail members and arranged for engagement with each of said sloping surfaces whereby upon movement of said ring member over said surfaces each of said walls will be moved to said inward position or released for movement therefrom.

2; In a butter mold, a bottom, side and end walls connected thereto and movable to or from an inward vertical position, rail members mounted on said4 walls and extending alongY the upper edges of saidwalls around the open top ofV said'mold and having provided thereon outwardly' and downward-ly extending surfaces, a

clamping band extending around said rail members and engag-eable with each of said surfaces whereby upon downward movement thereover said walls will be moved inwardly, and means on certain of said walls engageable by said band in the reverse upward movement thereof to displace said walls outwardly from said inward position.

'3. In a butter mold, a bottom, side and end walls connected thereto and movable to and from an inward vertical position, means normally urging said.' walls to outward position, means along the upper edges of said walls providing continuous outwardly and downwardly extending surfaces which in the inward position of said walls intersect to provide a continuous marginal surface, a clamping ring extending completely about said walls and engageable with said surfaces whereby upon downward movement said ring will engage said marginal surface for substantially its full length whereby said walls will be forced inwardly, cooperating portions at the side edges of said walls to limit the inward movement of said walls, means to limit the upward and downward movement of said ring, and means on said first surfaces of opposed walls for engaging and holding said ring in position holding said walls in inward position.

4. In a butter mold, a bottom, side and end walls connected thereto and movable to and from an inward vertical position, one set of said walls arranged to overlap the others when in said position, means normally urging said walls to outward position, rails along the upper portions of each of said walls having miter-joint ends arranged to engage one another when the walls are in inward position, said rails having outwardly and downwardly sloping surfaces at their outer sides, a clamping member extending completely about said walls and engageable with said surfaces whereby upon downward movement said walls will be forced inwardly, verti cal guides on said rails arranged to retain said member thereon and engageable therewith whereby upon upward movement of said member said walls will be moved outwardly, means on said guides to limit the movement of said member, and means to hold said member in depressed position.

v5. In aY butter mold, a bottom, side and end walls connected thereto and movable to and from an inward position, one set' of said walls arranged to overlap the others when in said position, means normally urging said walls to outward position, rails along the upper portions of each of said walls having miter-joint ends arranged to engage one another when the walls are in inward position, said rails having outwardly and downwardly sloping surfaces provided on their outer sides, the rails on certain of said walls having portions positioned to overlap said miter-joint ends in joined relation, and a clamping member encompassing walls and engageable with said surfaces to force the walls inwardly.

6. In a butter mold, a bottom, side and end walls connected thereto and movable to and from an inward position, means normally urging said walls to outward position, rails along the top of each of said walls having downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces arranged in the inward position of the walls to abut one another at their ends and provide a continuous reenforcement around the mold, and a clamping thereof, a ring having an offset portion and positioned to simultaneously engage each of said rails and operative to move downwardly thereover to move said walls to inward position, protruberances xed to said walls and positioned to lie in the path of movement of said ring and over which said ring may be forced to retain said ring in depressed position.

8. A butter mold in accordance with claim 7 wherein said ring is provided with a pair of said offset portions at opposite sides thereof formed to provide handles for gripping the ring in moving the same to and from said depressed position.

JOHN M. CHARLTON. 

